Recommended Pixel Art Programs

As with any art form, pixel art requires tools. If you're new to pixel art, or you prefer an easier interface, Microsoft Paint is a great program to use for your pixelated creations. Pixel art is easy to create, and with some skill, you can easily create a pixel masterpiece. BUT, you'll want to find a file conversion software, because saving your art in a .GIF or .JPG form can result in quality loss.

If you prefer a program with more dynamics, I recommend GraphicsGale. (Screen capture above) This is honestly my program of choice, as it provides all the necessary tools without complicating things. With this program you are also able to create icons, cursors, and animated .GIFs. Visit http://www.humanbalance.net/gale/us/ to download.

If your a Mac user, Pixen is a perfect program to use. Visit http://opensword.org/Pixen/ to download.

An expensive program like Photoshop is not needed for pixel art, nor is it recommended. It's best to "keep it simple." If you're fond of Photoshop or a similar program, it's perfectly fine to use, as it adds benefits such as transparency and layering, but it just isn't necessary.

I hope this helps you in finding a program that provides the tools for pixel artist.

The Launch of Pixel Venom

Today, coincidentally at midnight, Pixel Venom has officially opened. Pixel Venom is a haven to all things concerning pixel art. We'd like to invite you to please sign up and contribute to a fresh community of fellow Pixelpushers. Hopefully this group, among others, will promote pixel art to a higher value, and show the world that pixelated imagery is not just a thing of the past. Once we acquire a community of unique pixel artists, we hope to create a group mosaic. Once the Pixel Venom community is large enough, we hope to expand into a larger site with more capabilities. Thank you very much for visiting Pixel Venom Inc. (PVI) and as always, please feel free to post your original artwork!

Edit:

Pixel Venom has been extended to a general gaming blog.